UK gives energy drinks the can

United Kingdom

Several British papers focused on the government’s plan to ban the sale of energy drinks to children. The i led with a story on the resignation of former First Minister Alex Salmond from the Scottish National Party (SNP) over allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies.

Italy

Il Messaggero covered the latest in the spat between French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italy’s League chief Matteo Salvini and Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán. The two right-wing leaders earlier this week called Macron their foe, and the French president clapped back on Wednesday, saying they are right to view him as their “main opponent.” La Repubblica led with a story on Italian authorities investigating Salvini over his migration policies. The paper also reported that the League and 5Star coalition government is internally divided over pension cuts.

France

Nicolas Hulot’s resignation from the position of environment minister continued to dominate French newspapers. Le Monde wrote that Hulot has left a number of outstanding projects for his successor, the most important being the phasing out of nuclear energy. “Macron in the hands of lobbies?” was Libération’s headline. The paper questioned whether “influential groups have the ear” of the French president.

Germany

The aftermath of the violent far-right protests in the Saxon city of Chemnitz again dominated German front pages. Die Welt reported that the arrest warrant for an Iraqi suspect in a stabbing case had been leaked to far-right groups, which led to the race riots.